Motherwell were denied their first home league win since August after rock-bottom Ross County grabbed a late equaliser to deepen their relegation fears.
Stuart McKinstry looked to have struck a vital goal for Motherwell in their bid to climb away from the bottom end of the Scottish Premiership when he netted in 68 minutes, but Staggies substitute Jordy Hiwula Mayifuila scored with his first touch to equalise and extend Motherwell's run without a win to eight games.
In a week when the club were rocked by the announcement long-serving chief executive Alan Burrows will step down from his position, it proved to be another frustrating day that did nothing to ease fears of them becoming embroiled in a real relegation dogfight this season.
Boos rang out at Fir Park at full-time as a look at the table sees Motherwell ninth and just three points ahead of 12th place County with a game in hand. 'Well, Dundee United and Kilmarnock are all locked level on 20 points.
New ‘Well signings Olly Crankshaw and Mikael Mandron made the squad, with Crankshaw starting in one of three changes from Sunday’s defeat to Hibs.
Max Johnston made just his second start for the club following his recall from a loan spell at League One Cove Rangers, while Stuart McKinstry also came into the starting line-up. Dean Cornelius, Connor Shields and the suspended Callum Slattery dropped out. Former Steelman Jordan White led the line for the Staggies.
The game got underway during horrendous conditions, with torrential rain and swirling winds hammering Fir Park. It made for a scrappy start to proceedings and Liam Kelly's kick clear blowing back towards him being a prime example of what the players had to contend with.
It took until the 10th minute for a real opening to be created and McKinstry almost found the opener for Motherwell. The winger cut inside from the left flank and fired a low strike towards the far corner of Ross Laidlaw's goal. It had the County keeper beaten but McKinstry's effort clipped the post and went behind.
Eight minutes later McKinstry forced Lailaw into a fine save at his near post when he latched on to Goss' lay-off inside the box and almost found the top corner with a fierce strike.
Motherwell fans had their hearts in their mouths in 22 minutes when Owura Edwards just beat Liam Kelly to a loose back pass and went down inside the box under, at the most, minimal contact. VAR had a look and ruled there was no issues, as referee David Dickinson waved play on.
Staggies had their first attempt on goal in 28 minutes when Jordan Tillson rob 'Well of position in the middle of the park and fed White, but the striker's curling effort was comfortably collected by Kelly.
On the stroke of half-time space opened up for Jphnston and his drive was parried away by Laidlaw before van Veen volleyed the rebound high into the stands, leaving the sides all square at the break.
Six minutes into the second half White came within a whisker of senindg the Staggies in front when his glancing header from Yan Dhanda's cross flashed just wide of Kelly's far post.
It was a warning for the Steelmen and they had another one moments later when Dhanda curled a strike towards the top corner and Kelly had to be at full stretch to palm his effort away.
On the hour mark a powerful Paul McGinn header flew just over the top after the defender climbed well to get on the end of a corner from Goss.
Kelly denied Dhanada for a third time in 63 minutes, turning away a curling effort from the edge of the box, and still the deadlock could not be broken.
Hammell turned to his bench for the first time after 65 minutes when Goss made way for Ross Tierney.
Three minutes later, the Steelmen finally found a way through. Van Veen played the ball to McKinstry on the edge of the box and when they winger let rip, his strike was just too strong for Laidlaw as it squirmed under his grasp and into the net for the 20-year-old's fourth goal of the season.
New boy Mandron was handed his debut in 75 minutes with the hope of perhaps finding a goal to make sure of the points.
But it was a Staggies substitute who found the next goal, as County hauled themselves level.
Just seconds after coming on Mayifuila latched onto Jordan White's flick on to poke the ball past Kelly inside the box, netting with his first touch and, ultimately, consigning 'Well to a draw.
The Steelmen are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Championship side Arbroath in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, Solholm, Johnston, Lamie, Penney, McGinn, Spittal (Maguire 75), Goss (Tierney 65), McKinstry, van Veen, Crankshaw (Mandron 75).
Scorers: McKinstry 68
Bookings: Goss, Crankshaw
Subs not used: Oxborough, Maguire, Cornelius, Blaney, Mandron, Tierney, Shields, Dunachie, Miller.
ROSS COUNTY: Laidlaw, Harmon, Baldwin, Randall, Iacovitti, Dhanda (Mayifuila 80), Callachan, Tilson (Kenneh 75), Cancola, Edwards, White.
Scorers: Mayifuila 80
Bookings: Callachan, Tillson, Dhanda
Subs not used: Munro, Sims, Loturi, Watson, Olaigbe, Akio, Mayifuila, Smith, Kenneh.
Ref: David Dickinson
VAR: Matthew MacDermid
HT: 0-0
Att: 4,574
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